-Civil Service Boss response to 40,000 civil servants reported dismissal
In a presentation before the Liberian House of Representatives, Josiah Jokai, Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), addressed widespread concerns regarding the employment status of 40,000 civil servants identified in a recent payroll audit. Jokai emphasized that the agency’s goal is to regularize the employees’ statuses rather than terminate them.
“We are not firing them neither dismissing them as being speculated,” Jokai clarified, responding to rumors about potential job losses. The audit revealed two categories of employees: 19,600 who had initiated the Personnel Action Notice (PAN) process but were left unapproved, and 20,400 who had not initiated the PAN process at all. “The total of those two gives you 40,000 employees concerned,” Jokai explained.
The Employee Status Regularization Project, launched by the CSA, aims to address these discrepancies. Jokai detailed the steps the CSA will take to resolve the issue. “After the headcount, which should be completed in the next two months once we get the resources from the government, we will ensure the 19,600 complete their PANs and legitimize their employment. Similarly, the 20,400 who did not initiate the process will be issued PANs to confirm their employment status,” he said.
The PAN is a critical document containing essential employee information, such as pay grade, qualifications, and next of kin details. Jokai highlighted the importance of the PAN, noting, “Without the PAN, employees don’t know their pay grade or who is entitled to their benefits. It’s their right to have it.”
He also pointed out that the issue of incomplete PANs predates 2019, linked to a lack of proper documentation during the harmonization process of the national payroll system. “Prior to 2019, ministries, agencies, and commissions operated their individual payrolls, which included special allowances and regular salaries,” Jokai explained. “The Standardization and Remuneration Act of 2019 aimed to bring all agencies into the national payroll system, but many civil servants were added without completing their PANs.”
Jokai’s commitment to transparency and accountability was evident as he reassured the legislators. “The CSA must account for every employee, and we are committed to ensuring compliance with the law and policies,” he affirmed. He also stressed that no employees have been removed from the payroll due to incomplete PANs. “Nobody has been removed from the payroll on the basis of not having a PAN process. We have not, and that’s not what we intend to do.”
The CSA’s plan involves collaboration with government entities to finalize the PANs for all affected employees. “We will work with the respective entities, heads of entities, and human resource departments to ensure the PAN process is completed and their status is legitimized,” Jokai said.
His appearance before the House was prompted by a communication from Montserrado County District 9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, seeking clarity on the status of the 40,000 civil servants. Jokai’s detailed explanation and assurances aimed to quell concerns and confirm the CSA’s dedication to resolving the issue without job losses.
Jokai concluded by underscoring the CSA’s responsibility in this matter. “The previous leaderships of the CSA must take a significant portion of the blame for not ensuring that these people completed their personnel action notices. It is the responsibility of the civil service to work with the spending entities to make sure that those people complete their PANs. That’s why we are here today, and I want to assure you that we are not dismissing or removing these people from the job,” he reiterated.
The comprehensive approach taken by the CSA under Jokai’s leadership aims to bring order and compliance to Liberia’s civil service system, ensuring that all employees are properly documented and their employment statuses legitimized according to the law.